According to the legends passed down through generations, the cat was tricked by the rat and could not attend the Twelve Zodiac banquet.

However, in Vietnam and Thailand, the Cat sign exists instead of the Rabbit.

In other cases, the Pig sign was replaced with the Elephant or Wild Boar.

“Yeah. You know your stuff. The cat lost its spot and came to hate the rat, so ever since then, it chases rats whenever it sees one.”

Rananot spoke calmly as he looked down at his claws.

Those claws looked like the talons of a wild beast.

“You’re probably wondering why I’m telling you this. Well, I have the Cat zodiac. Don’t get the wrong idea—it’s not like I hate you just because of a zodiac sign. It’s just…….”

Rananot slowly raised his head.

An indescribable killing intent swirled in his eyes.

“I just don’t like your face, that’s all.”

[Special Ability ‘Cat’s Grudge’ activates!]

[In this Demon Realm, the power of the Twelve Zodiac is maximized!]

“You’re pissing me off!”

With that shout, Rananot launched himself off the ground and charged at Seo Kangrim.

Before anyone realized it, Rananot was moving on all fours like a cat.

But his attack power was no different from that of a beast like a lion or tiger, not a mere cat.

-Chaeng! Chaeng!

Claws and sword clashed with a loud ring.

Could Rananot’s current form even be called human anymore?

The moment the primal aggression and instinct of a wild animal kicked in, his speed became incomparably faster than before.

It was the effect of his Special Ability.

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[Special Ability] Cat’s Grudge

[Rank] First Ghost Grade

[Description] When attacking an opponent with rat-related characteristics, stats are maximized.

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A Special Ability that exerted powerful effects against rat-type Demon Beasts or people with rat-related characteristics.

Because of this, despite having a low Fate Rank and overall low stats, he could fight at a level comparable to Seo Kangrim.

At that moment, Rananot swung his leg toward Seo Kangrim’s exposed waist.

-Chwaak!

Blades had already extended from the tips of his shoes.

However, thanks to wearing the ‘Boundary of Life and Death,’ the attack failed to land properly.

Seo Kangrim studied Rananot with sharp eyes.

‘Why did the Clown Troupe send this guy?’

Rananot was undeniably strong.

But not strong enough to kill Seo Kangrim.

Both the Clown Troupe and Rananot himself surely knew that fact.

‘His speed is fast, but his attack power is low. The Clown Troupe isn’t trying to kill me. They have a different objective.’

Seo Kangrim’s gaze fell on the claws.

The weapon was too short to deliver fatal wounds, but it was well-suited for causing bleeding.

He asked casually, as if tossing the question out:

“Are you after my blood?”

Rananot had been aiming for areas other than vital points this whole time.

Like someone whose only goal was to slash and draw blood.

Rananot’s eyes shifted ever so slightly.

“Quick on the uptake, aren’t you? Must be because you’re a rat. But even if you figured it out…….”

-Chwaak!

The claws shot sharply toward Seo Kangrim’s face.

A speed he could barely track.

Rananot’s eyes gleamed sharply like a cat’s as he spoke.

“Think you can keep blocking forever?”

Rananot’s attack power wasn’t particularly high, but in speed alone, he was neck and neck with Seo Kangrim.

Rananot assumed an attack stance again and spoke.

“Seo Kangrim, you’re strong. But in this Demon Realm, I have the advantage as the cat!”

“Sure. I suppose so.”

Seo Kangrim replied calmly, as if he had already known this.

The moment Rananot frowned at that nonchalant response.

Seo Kangrim’s eyes flashed as he spoke.

“Then I just need to summon a different zodiac sign. Not the rat.”

The instant those words ended, a small vortex formed in the air.

Rananot stared at it, inwardly scoffing at Seo Kangrim.

‘Summoning a Spirit Beast? Doesn’t matter. His Spirit Beast is definitely still immature……!’

At that moment, he felt an enormous amount of magic power erupting from within the vortex.

Every hair on Rananot’s body stood on end.

Something was emerging from the vortex.

[Spirit Beast ‘Yorongi’ is summoned!]

It was a dragon.

When he had received the briefing on Seo Kangrim, he had indeed heard that the man traveled with a dragon.

‘But that size……!’

Rananot was thunderstruck as he looked up at the creature hovering in the sky.

The Black-Red Dragon casting a shadow over his face was, by any measure, in its mature stage.

‘The report definitely said it was still in its juvenile stage……!’

Yorongi had once been small enough to hold in one hand, but things had changed.

The tiny, adorable impression was nowhere to be found—now it only breathed out air laced with venom.

“In this Demon Realm, the effects of the Twelve Zodiac are maximized. And the dragon is part of the Twelve Zodiac, after all.”

While Rananot reeled in shock, Seo Kangrim spoke with an unruffled expression.

Then Seo Kangrim turned to look at Yorongi.

“Yorongi.”

“Keureung?”

“Bite.”

The instant the command left his mouth, Yorongi opened its jaws wide toward Rananot.

Rananot’s animal instincts screamed at him to flee from the predator.

He scrambled to escape Yorongi, but something seized his leg.

“You shouldn’t run.”

Seo Kangrim grabbed Rananot’s leg and hurled him toward Yorongi.

Just as the panicked Rananot tried to launch an attack at Yorongi.

He felt the energy that had been surging through his body moments ago vanish in an instant.

[Confirmed: No rat-related elements detected in the hostile target!]

[Special Ability ‘Cat’s Grudge’ is dispelled!]

-Kwadeudeuk!

“Aaaagh!”

Before he could dodge, Yorongi’s teeth sank into Rananot’s arm.

Blood gushed from the wound as the bitten area was instantly poisoned.

His face turning purple, Rananot collapsed on the spot.

The enraged Yorongi moved to finish the kill, but Seo Kangrim held it back.

“Yorongi. That’s enough.”

“Keureung?”

“I need to extract information from him.”

He couldn’t let Rananot die here.

He needed to squeeze out every detail—the purpose of this ambush, the location of their hideout, and the identity of the Clown Troupe’s leader.

As Seo Kangrim approached the fallen Rananot and tried to haul him to his feet.

-Kwajik!

Something flew through the air, forcing its way between Seo Kangrim and Rananot.

It smashed into the ground, crushing and bouncing off—the Wheel.

Spiked wheels were spinning at ferocious speeds in the air.

Not just one, but more than a dozen of them were rotating in the sky.

That was when he spotted someone perched on the flat surface of one of the wheels.

“See? I told you he shouldn’t have gone alone.”

The person sitting on the wheel was also apparently a member of the Clown Troupe, wearing a black mask.

Judging by the voice, it was a woman.

The mask covered everything below her nose, so only the shape of her mouth was barely visible.

“He said he could handle it alone, so we sent him ahead. Good thing I followed, huh?”

The clown said as much and landed lightly beside Rananot.

She hoisted Rananot up, loaded him onto a wheel, and then looked at Seo Kangrim.

“Hello, Seo Kangrim. You’re even more handsome in person. Nice to meet you. I’m Bena.”

Bena spoke in a witty, friendly tone.

Seo Kangrim, however, still hadn’t dropped his guard.

Seeing this, Bena spoke in an exaggerated tone.

“Wow, scary. I didn’t come here to fight, so relax. I just want to take our kitty back.”

“You can’t take him. Either you leave him, or you stay.”

He couldn’t lose such a critical source of information.

He needed to extract every last scrap of information about the Clown Troupe.

At that, the clown tilted her head as if in agonizing deliberation, then spoke.

“Hmm, that’s a problem. We both have things to do. But if you let us go, I’ll tell you something good.”

“…….”

“You want to get to Shin Sooa and the others quickly, don’t you?”

-Kwang!

The instant she finished speaking, Seo Kangrim’s Seven-Blade Sword slammed down toward Bena.

As the cloud of dirt kicked up by the attack settled, a shattered wheel came into view.

Bena had already mounted another wheel and was hovering in the air.

“Sorry about taking our kitty. As an apology, I’ll give you one piece of information.”

Bena said, keeping her distance.

A smile played across her lips.

“He has expectations for you.”

‘He?’

At those words, Seo Kangrim’s eyes grew even sharper.

He caught the corner of Bena’s mouth curling upward.

“You need to get stronger, Seo Kangrim. Much, much stronger than you are now. That’s what will make Him happy.”

“Yorongi.”

Seo Kangrim called Yorongi’s name in a low, threatening voice.

The moment it heard that voice, Yorongi charged straight at Bena.

As its massive jaws lunged to swallow her whole, another Wheel blocked its path.

-Kwagwagok!

“You want to keep fighting? Fine. Then I’ll have to oblige. Other clowns will be coming besides me.”

Bena spoke with a killing intent subtly different from before.

She mounted a Wheel and looked down at Seo Kangrim.

“Reinforcements will be here soon. Even someone like you—I wonder how long you can hold out?”

“I don’t think I’ll need to hold out.”

Bena tilted her head in confusion at Seo Kangrim’s words.

Seo Kangrim pointed his sword at a monitor drone flying near his head.

The moment Bena saw the scene reflected on the monitor, her eyes went wide.

* * *

Explosions and flames were erupting across the Great Demon Realm.

The number of Clown Troupe members who had crashed the battle appeared to exceed at least a hundred.

The race had reached its final stages, and the vast majority of Hunters and Manshin were already exhausted.

‘At this rate, it’ll be over soon. Once all the Hunters and Manshin fall…….’

One of the clowns assessed the situation and grinned.

Though that smile was hidden behind a mask.

He looked up at the monitor drone.

‘This scene is being broadcast to everyone right now.’

The battle here was being streamed live.

The perfect event to announce the Clown Troupe’s existence to the world.

As he bound the fallen Manshin and Hunters, the clown spoke to his comrade.

“They’re all weaker than I expected.”

“None of them were much to write home about.”

The clowns were chatting in cheerful voices.

But then, a scream rang out nearby.

One of the Clown Troupe members came sprinting toward them, calling out to his comrades as if fleeing for his life.

“What? What’s going on?”

“H-here……! There’s a Manshin who’s way too strong……!”

The moment he tried to speak in a trembling voice.

-Kwaang!

One of the Manshin materialized like lightning and sent the clown flying with a single punch.

Leaving the downed clown behind, Shin Sooa stepped forward.

Her eyes gleamed fiercely.

“What the hell are you bastards?”